Speed controlling mechanism for



R. A. DOHL El AL SPEED CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MAIL TREATING MACHINES Aug. 22, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12, 1946 g- 1950 R. A. DOHL ETAL SPEED CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MAIL TREATING MACHINES Filed June 12, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Roberl- A- Dohl fdu avzi Zigel/loefer 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 12, 1946 PR/N TIA/6 5 T4,? TING I 1 3 a r a H a m 2 a 0 a 0 0 4 mm c o 9 4 M w f F vo u 0% m m m w w M w 0 Patented Aug. 22, 1950 SPEED CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MAIL TREATING MACHINES Robert A. Dohl and Edward G. Ziegelhoefer,

Rochester, N. Y., assignors to Commercial Controls Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application June 12, 1946, Serial No. 676,328

This invention relates to a mail treating machine, and more particularly to improvements in the driving mechanism of such a machine.

In order to be readily adaptable to the Wide Variety of mail matter normally transmitted from different types of business ofiices, a mail treating machine must be capable of handling envelopes and cards of varying lengths and Widths in such manner that the postage values may be accurately and efi-lciently printed thereon without loss of postage, and must also be of such nature as to be capable of printing postage values on gummed tape. These machines are in most all instances characterized by a relatively heavy meter which is automatically and intermittently operated, in the case of a succession of envelopes or cards, to print postage values thereon in accordance with values set into the meter. When a postage value is to :be printed on a strip of gummed tape, it is customary to actuate the machine, including the meter, manually. In either event, however, the meter operation is intermittent, rather than continuous, and as the mechanism of the meter is of necessity rugged, and in many cases of substantial weight, a substantial initial load is put upon the driving mechanism which actuates the meter, as Well as on the electric motor, which in the case of an electrically operated machine is connected to the driving mechanism.

Such driving mechanism is, in many cases, characterized by a non-revolution clutch which is automatically or manually tripped in accordance with the type of mail matter going through the machine, and which accordingly is directly subjected to the very substantial starting load at the beginning of each cycle of operation, whether the remainder of the driving mechanism, including the motor, runs continuously or not. Thus, in the case Where the motor and driving mechanism run continuously, the clutch will be automatically or manually engaged to transfer the driving impetus from the driving mechanism to the meter, and in many cases to the platen which underlies the meter printing drum. The sudden shock engendered upon engagement of the clutch must be absorbed by the clutch if the machine is to operate continuously in an eflicient manner. It might be noted that in busy oifices a substantial number of pieces of mail, for example up to ten thousand pieces per day, are handled by one machine. If then such a clutch is to be subjected to such usage day after day, it must be proportionately rugged. Even so, however, clutch failures under such conditions 5 Claims. ((31. 101-235) of use are not uncommon, and too, the noise resulting' from intermittent clutch engagement and disengagement is often objectionable.

Such machines also often include an envelope sealing and ejecting device which, when in operative position, lies in the path of travel of an envelope from the meter printing drum, the ej ector being connected in any suitable manner to the driving mechanism, so as to be driven thereby at a suitable rate of speed to eject the envelope with sufiicient rapidity that a following envelope will not come into engagement with it. When, however, the machine is set to print postage values on tape, such ejecting device is, of course, unnecessary, and desirably is completely removed from the path of travel of the tape, as not to impede the movement of the tape from the printing drum. This is particularly true when the tape is moistened as it leaves the machine. When such ejecting device is so removed from the path of tape travel, there is, of course, no need for driving it. However, in various types of mail treating machines that have been commercially available, the ejector is connected at all times to the driving mechanism, and accordingly operates whether in operative position or otherwise, thus adding to the complexity and accordingly cost and maintenance of the machine.

Accordingly it is among the objects of our invention to provide in a mail treating machine a driving mechanism capable of obviating the disadvantages hereinbefore described in a simple and efficient manner. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In accordance with one form of our invention, the machine includes an electric motor which, when the machine is in operation,is continuously running, and is adapted to be intermittently connected to the meter by way of the driving mechanism. The driving mechanism includes, in addition to an intermittently engageable onerevolution clutch, shafts, pulleys, and belts, between the motor and one side of the clutch, which are constantly driven with the motor. Associated with one of the driving belts in this mechanism is a cam and follower which operate upon engagement of the clutch in such manner as to effect, at the beginning of the cycle of operation, a relatively slow acceleration of the meter drive shaft, and a proportionate deceleration thereof at the end of the cycle, the arrangement being such that during the printing portion of the cycle themeter is driven at top speed. Thus the clutch is not subjected to a substantially full load at the start of the cycle, nor must it abruptly absorb the full momentum of the driven mechanisms at the end of the cycle. Also associated with the driving mechanism is a friction disc connected to the drive shaft of the ejector device which is in driving connection with the driving mechanism only when the ejector is. in operative position, the ejeotors thus being stationary, i. e. not driven when in inoperative position.

The specific nature of the mechanism will be.

the motor, the meter, theinterconnectingdriv-,.

ing mechanism and the envelope ejecting cl evice;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken along e line 3 i F gur 1.; and

u s i a aph-.0 nlolt o compa tive. ac.- celeration and deceleration curves,

milwi siiqe char ct rs. fer to similar par s ug ou t iews of the. d awin .v

The machine shown in Figure 1 is generally of the type described in detail in Patent. No. 2950303 to Commodore D. Ryan and Edwardr. Drake, a i g n r mprises a housin enerally indicated at [0, inwhich is disposed. a m to H nne e oa drivinsmec anism. j ijra nd s teda t. d p o dr v a meter [3 for printing postagevalues on envelopes and cards, or on gummed -tape. It will suilice h e te ha operat on. o me er is m b i eifected automatically upon the introduction. of anenvelope or card in the machine, or manually by a suitable push button or lever (not. shown) when it is desired toprintpostageon tape.

More secif cally, housing !l comprises bottom and top plates liandlfi, the latter of whichprovides a" platform for the support of meter. [3, mean o hown). in pro ided. for detach.- sb securin thsms sr inopera ive. posi ion on he. p a or Housing 9. lso ncmdes ron andrearwalls. it and l'lbetweenwhicharouser din any suita le; manner upporting. partinsq lai 8 11s. and 2a. lates [8 and. Is n t s o p rtment wi hin. which-motor H is d se ediwhil p ates! and 1 2.0. forms. chamri w ich h driving mechanism 2= s i os the p e o ionQi-thischamber.bein pr ded t a detac ab ov r, or hood. 2

The armatur shaft 22 of motor ll? has fas; tenedto its outer end a coupling 23 which attaches the armature shaft to a shaft 24, the opposite ends of which are journaled in bearings 25' and 26 carried respectively in plates [9' and 20. On this shaft-isfasteneda pulley, generally indicated at 21; comprising a fixed side 28- and an axially movable side'29; Side 29 is springebiased toward fixd side 2-8- bya spring 30 coiled about a pulley hub 3l, one end of the spring bearing against a flange 32 on the free end-of the hub, theother end ofthe spring bearing against the axially movable side 29 of pulley 2]. About. this pulley is trained a belt, e. g. a V belt 33, this belt also being trained about a larger pulley 34"rotatably mounted on a shaft 35, whose opposite ends are journaled in bearings 35 and 31 carried respec tive'lybyplates lQ-and 20. Fixed to pulley 34in any suitable manner, so as to rotate therewith relative to shaft35, is a smaller pulley 38 over which-is-traineda second belt'39; Belt 331s; also trained about a large policy 4.0; the hub of which 4 may comprise a smaller pulley 4|, pulleys 40 and 4| being freely rotatable on a shaft 42, the opposite ends of which are journaled in bearings 43 and 44 carried respectively by plates l0 and 20. Also freely mounted on shaft 42 is an idler pulley 10 (see also Figure 2) over which belt 33 runs.

Small pulley 4!. has trained thereover a V belt 45, which is also carried by a large pulley 46 rotatably mounted on shaft 35 so as to be freely rotatable relative thereto. This pulley 46 is secured in any suitable manner to the driving element: 41a of a one-revolution clutch, generally indicated at 41, the driven element 411) of which may be secured to-the hub of a gear 48 which is fixed as, by a pin to shaft 35. If desired, clutch element 41b may also be directly secured to shaft 35. For a. detailed description of the construction and operation of clutch 41, reference is made to the above-noted patent. Thus it follows that when clutch 41 is engaged, gear 48 as Well as shaft 35.-are driven by theseveral parts described intervening motorll and the clutch. Inother words,.when motor ll, energized, pulleys 21,; 34, 38-, 40, 4| and, 4.6, and clutch element 4laare constantly driven.

As described in detail in the. above-noted Ryan et a1. patent, clutch41,may be engaged in either of two manners. Mechanism not herein shown may be provided to effect clutch engagement upon the introduction of a pieceofmail such as an envelope or a card, or, when the machine is set for printing on tape, clutch engagement may be effectedby a suitable push button or lever.

When. clutch 4! is thus engaged so as todrive gear 4.8, a mesh gear Silisalso drivem This gear 5.0. issecuredin any: suitable manner to shaft 42, which shaft is secured as-by-acoupling; 5| to a shaft. 52, theouter endrof whichcarries a platen (not shown) which underlies the printing; drum D. of meter, l3- and comprises an underlying support for; the envelope or tape during the printing operation. Shaft 35 carries on itsleft-hand end a coupling, 53 adapted to mate with a coupling 54 on.meter I3...so that when. clutch 41 is engaged, ashereinbefore.described, both the meterand theplatenare driven.

From. the above it may be seen that with only parts described, a very substantial load is. placed onclut hll when it is engaged. Asthe several pulleys are rotating at to speed,;iandthus.to-

gether with .the clutchare abruptly subjected to the fulliinertia, not only, of meter l3 but also of the vplaten andits associated driving mechanism; the meter and the platen, together; with itsmechanism, wouldof necessity be rapidly accelerated to top speed,- as, indicated byv the curve- 54 (Fig urea 41. To -.the.en.d of avoiding this rapid acceleration, and accordingly avoiding such an abrupt impositionofztotal loadon. the clutch; and driving-mechanism w r cp vid di as. shown in gure 1,,,a am r'e c n ric 515, the hub 51- of whichsniay be pinned or otherwise fastenedto shaft. Arranged. to. ride onithesurface. of cocentric 56 (seealsQ Figure. 3) is a follower or roller-'5"! rotatably mountedbna stud.58 fixedly projectingfrom. a, boss. 59. formed between. the d e nl rm. Theunner end oI-thisrarm comprises-aeolian E1 or: the like-by which. the arm. is. freely mouutednn. shaft. 35.. betweentpuh 5 341, (figure; 1;) and a, collar 82. Rotatably mounted onthe. lowerendof arm '58:; as. lay a stud n p lleymer which belt: 33- is trained... It may 1 W: be e n that eccentr c 5,6. (Figure 3). rotates. between thecfu-ll and broken linenositionsindicated. arm iltis rocked back. and

forth between its full and broken line positions. As the arm is thus rocked toward its full line posi tion, belt 33 forced from its broken line to its full line position, and accordingly is pulled toward the axis of driving pulley 21, this radial movement of the belt relative to the pulley being accommodated by the axial movement of pulley side 29 (Figure 1) against the bias of spring 30. When the cam or eccentric 56 rotates to its broken line position, arm BI], and accordingly belt 33, also move to their broken line positions, permitting the spring-biased pulley side to force the belt radially outward of the pulley 29. Of course, when the belt is in its full line position it is driven at a lesser linear velocity than when it is in its broken line position. It accordingly follows that pulley 34 is driven at a varying angular velocity through a cycle of operation.

In Figure 3 the full line positions of eccentric 55, arm 6i) and belt 33 correspond to the positions of these parts at the beginning of the cycle of operation. In other words, pulley 34, and accordingly pulleys 38, 40, 4|, 46, and clutch element diva, are being driven at a relatively low angular velocity. When clutch 4'! is tripped so that gears 48 and 50, and accordingly shaft 42 and eccentric 56 are rotated, the initial angular velocity of shafts 35 and 42 is relatively low. However, as shaft 42 rotates, so also does eccentric 55. As the eccentric rotates from its full to its broken line position in Figure 3, belt 33 is permitted to move to the outer portion of pulley 21, and as it does so, pulley 3'4 and the various parts driven thereby accelerate generally in the manner indicated by curve 64 (Figure 4). It will be seen that the rate of acceleration is much slower than that indicated by the curve 55, so that the inertia of the meter and platen is gradually, rather than abruptly overcome, and the clutch and driving mechanism are accordingly not abruptly subjected to the full load of the parts driven thereby.' When the mechanism has accelerated to top speed, as indicated by portion S of the curves in Figure 4, the printing operation takes place. Inasmuch as eccentric 56 (Figure 3) effected gradual acceleration of the driving mechanism, so also does it effect gradual deceleration of the mechanism, in accordance with portion 54a of curve 54 (Figure 4), thus avoiding the otherwise abrupt deceleration indicated by portion 55a of curve 55. Thus it may be seen that the decelerating action of eccentric 5'6, which is achieved in exactly the same manner as the accelerating action thereof, but in reverse fashion, gradually reduces the momentum of the driven parts, rather than abruptly reducing the momentum thereof, thus decreasing the load on the clutch disengaging mechanism and rendering the operation thereof quieter. It will, of course, be noted that the over-all time for a cycle of operation is not increased by the action of eccentric 55, and also that the printing operation is effected when the mechanism is operating at top speed. It follows that the envelope or tape is fed through the machine at high linear velocity as not to reduce the capacity of the machine.

As noted hereinbefore, it is usually desirable when the machine is set to print postage on cards or envelopes, to provide an ejecting mechanism to discharge such mail matter subsequent to the printing operation. To this end there is provided an ejecting device, generally indicated at 65, which may resemble in all important respects the ejecting mechanism described in detail in Patent No. 2,380,331 to Commodore l5. fiyan and Edward P. Drake. As described in that patent, mechanism 65 is movable from the solid to the broken line position shown in Figure l, the solid line position indicating the inoperative position of the ejecting device, the operative position of the device being indicated by broken lines. When the ejecting device is elevated to its operative, i. e. broken line position, it is in proper position to receive cards, envelopes and the like from the printing drum D after the printing operation to eject them from the machine into a suitable hopper or the like (not shown). The ejecting device is driven by a shaft 66, the right-hand end of which is journaled by a ball and socket bearing 6! mounted in plate 20. To shaft 66 is secured a friction disc 68 which moves upwardly with the shaft to engage the outer surface of belt 33 (see Figure 2) adjacent idler pulley 10. In Figure 2, the full line position of friction disc 68 indicates its inoperative position, the operative position of the disc being indicated by the broken line. Accordingly, when in the broken line position, disc 68 is in good frictional engagement with belt 33, and is accordingly driven thereby, as is also shaft 66. Operation of the shaft, of course, results in operation of the ejecting device 65, which accordingly accelerates and decelerates in the same manner as hereinbefore described with respect to the meter, as is desirable. In other words, it is of real advantage that the meter, the platen and the ejector operate at the same rates, in order to handle the mail matter efficiently.

While we have not herein described the mechanism by which gummed tape may be treated, it will suffice to note that such mechanisms are shown and described in detail in the above-identified patents. We will note, however, that such mechanism is cperatively associated with ejector 55 in such manner that when the tape mechanism is shifted into operative position, the ejector is shifted into inoperative position, i. e; its full line position shown in Figure l, as the ejector is unnecessary when the machine is printing on tape.

Accordingly it may be seen that by the abovedescribed mechanisms, the several objects hereinbefore set forth are attained in a thoroughly eflicient and practical manner.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is tobe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a mail treating machine having a printing mechanism for printing postage on mail matter, the combination of, a normally stationry drive shaft for driving said printing mechanism, a normally operating motor, driving mechanism including a one revolution clutch operatively connecting said motor and said drive shaft, said driving mechanism being in continuous operation while said motor is running and including a belt and variable radius driving pulley therefor, a normally stationary driven shaft adapted to be actuated when said clutch is engaged means driven by said driven shaft for varying the effective driving radius of said pulley thereby to drive said belt and accordingly said driving mechanism at different velocities, and means responsive to engagement of said clutch for actuating said pulley radius varying means to vary the rate of operation of said driving mechanism and accordingly said drive shaft.

2. In a mail treating machine having a printing mechanism for printing postage on mail matter, the combination of, a normally stationary drive shaft for driving said printing mechanism, a normally operating motor, driving mechanism including a one revolution clutch operatively connecting said motor and said drive shaft, said driving mechanism being in continuous operation while said motor is running and including a belt and variable radius driving pulley therefor, a normally stationary driven shaft adapted to be actuated when said clutch is engaged means driven by said driven shaft for varying the effective driving radius of said pulley thereby to drive said belt and accordingly said driving mechanism at different velocities, means responsive to engagement of said clutch for actuating said pulley radius varying means tovary the rate of operation of said driving mechanism and accordingly said drive shaft, and an eject ing device connectable with said belt to be driven thereby at rates varying in accordance with the rate variation of said belt as determined'by the varying effective driving radius of said pulley.

3. In a mail treating machine having a printing mechanism for printing postage on mail matter, the combination of, a normally stationary drive shaft for driving said printing mechanism, a normally operating motor, driving mechanism including a one revolution clutch operatively connecting said motor and said driveshaft, said driving mechanism being in continuous operation While said motor is running and including a belt and variable radius driving; pulley therefor, a normally stationary driven shaft adapted to be actuated when said clutch is en;- gaged means driven by said driven shaft for varying the effective driving radius of said pulley thereby to drive said belt and accordingly said driving mechanism at different velocities, means responsive to engagement of said clutch for actuating said pulley radius varying means to vary the rate of operation of said driving mechanism and accordingly said drive shaft, an ejecting de.- vice including a driving disc, and means for engaging said driving disc with said belt thereby to effect operation of said ejecting device at rates varying in accordance with the rate variation of said belt as determined by the varying effective driving radius of said pulley,

4. In a mail treating machineihaving a printing mechanism for printing postage on mail matter, the combination of, ,a drive shaft for driving said printing mechanism, a unotor which under normal operation of the mail treating machine is operating continuously, a shaft connected to said motor, a tapered driving pulley adapted to drive a V-belt connected to said shaft, one side of said pulley being movable axially of said shaft and spring-biased toward the other side of said pulley; whereby the effective driving radius of the pulley may be varied, driving mechanism including a driven pulley, a V-belt connecting said driving 65 and driven pulleys and accordingly said driving pulley and said driving mechanism, a clutch adapted upo engagement to form a driving con? nection between said driving mechanism and said printing mechanism drive shaft, an idler pulley in engagement with one run of said belt, movable means mounting said idler pulley for movement relative to said belt, means for movin said'movable means to move said idler pulley relative to ai b l d accordingly vary th len th .of t e loop of the belt about said driving and driven pulleys and thereby to efiect relative movement between the sides of the driving pulley to vary the effective driving radius thereof, whereby the velocity of said belt and accordingly that of the d ivin me a i m is varied, and me ns respon s ve to hea ment .of said clu ch fo p ing said last-mentioned means,

5. In mail treating machine having a printing mechanism for printing postage on mail matter, the combination of, a drive shaft for driving said printing mechanism, a motor which under normal operation of the mail treating machine is operating continuously, a shaft connected to said motor, a tapered driving pulley adapted to drive a vi-belt connected to said shaft; one side of said pulley being movable axially of said shaft and spring-biased toward the other side of said pulley, whereby the effective driving radius of the pulley may be varied, driving mechanism including a driven pulley, a V-belt connecting said driving and driven pulleys and accordingly said driving pulley and said driving mechanism, a clutch adaptedupon engagement to form a driving connection between said driving mechanism and said printing mechanism drive shaft, an idler pulley in engagement with one run of said belt, movable means mounting said idler pulley for movement relative to said belt, means for moving said movable means to move said idler pulley relative to said belt and accordingly vary the length of the loop of the belt about said driving and driven pulleys and thereby to effect relative movement between the sides of the driving pulley to vary the effective driving radius thereof, whereby the velocity'of said belt and accordingly that of the drivingmechanism is varied, means responsive to engagement of said clutch-for operating said lastmentioned means, an ejecting device including a friction driving disc therefor, and means for engaging said driving disc with said belt-to effect operation of said ejecting means at the same rate assaid belt.

ROBERT A. DOHL. EDWARD G. ZIEGELHOEFERJ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name' Date 939,427 Main NOW 9, 1909 2,141,119 Wheeler, Jr. et al. Dec. 20, 1938 2,199,012 Skelly Apr. 30, 1940 2,215,831 Heyer Sept; 24, 1940 

